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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

left ankle pain after 8 months

by Martha Harper
(Guntowm,Ms )

Feb. 2008 I fell from a step going out of my front door. I recieved a sprained ankle with 2 partial torn ligaments. My outside ankle and along the outside portion of my foot were badly swollen and black. I was on crutches, wore an air cast, pain management, RICE, all the normal treatments. When it first happened, I had xrays and a MRI. Weeks later after coming off the crutches, wearing an ankle brace and exercises, my ankle was still slightly swollen and painful to walk on. I had another MRI that showed my ligament were still torn. The doctor said to continue with the excercises and ibuprofen, wearing the brace,so on and so on. I did. I've continued to have pain inside the joint and some tenderness along the outside of the foot. No bruising now, but my toes do get colder on my left foot and trying to lay on my left side has become a challenge. My foot and ankle began to throb and at times I experince shooting pain from the outside ankle to the inside ankle. IF my feet are hanging down while sitting, my ankle and outside foot start having a dull ache. I went to my Family General Practioner and she sent me for a 3rd MRI. It showed my ligament had healed and she said everything looked ok as far as the report showed. If I continued to had problems to consult a podiatrist. What could be the cause of these problems. I hate

going and paying for these very expensive test just for the results to show nothing. I'm not making this up and it not "in my head". Should I still be having this aching, throbbing pain for this long? Why is laying on my left side. putting a slight amount of pressure on my skin in that area causing me discomfort still. I should also mention I use a memory foam pillow to lay my foot/ankle on but this only helps for a little while and also this is the 2nd time I've sprain this left ankle. The first time was in was in 2004. Both times the doctors said no breaks are showing on the xrays/MRI. Any advise you can give as to what the problem could be is greatly appreciated and thanks for having this question board.

Hi Martha,
Well for starters I would stop going for MRI's. I do not know anything about you like your age, your weight, your medical history, but since this is the second time you have injured this area it is probably safe to assume that you have scar tissue in the area from these accidents which is still causing some of your pain. Additionally, even though the ligaments are "healed" they are probably still weak and not supporting the ankle as well as they should.
Have you tried physical therapy? That would be my suggestion, which should go a long way in reducing your symptoms and improving the strength in your ankle.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Comments for left ankle pain after 8 months

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Jun 30, 2011
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I'am still in pain. After 6 months!!! Ouch
by: Nikki Smith

wow, I have the same problem I thought that i was going crazy. Evryone told me that i should of been healed by now.. But as i type my foot is throbing and shoots up my leg and causes my 4th and 5th toe to go crazy... This pain cause me to not be able to stand , walk or even sit a chair for a long period of time before it starts aching again.. What should I do Help...

Dec 14, 2008
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left ankle pain
by: Anonymous

Martha, Sounds like my injury, except I had a small fracture of the Talus, after falling off a ladder. Both lateral ligaments were torn, and my heel was very badly bruised. No fracture, thank goodness. I was on crutches for 5 weeks, non weight bearing and in a soft cast and brace.Very painful.I was doing fine until I re-sprained it over Thanksgiving. So I'm back on the crutches for a few more weeks. The pain is really bad at the end of the day, and my ankle hurts most the time. I agree with the Dr, re: Physical Therapy, but I never got started, after I re-injured it. The ankle is still very swollen and painful, but I'm hoping the medication and rest helps heal it. Hang in there.

Nov 12, 2008
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I have the same pain
by: misty price

I've had the exact same pain. I started running and then got pain in my foot.. it's above my heel on the sides. So I went to the doctor and she said it wasn't swollen or bruised. She sent me for an xray and it came out normal. So she put me in a walking boot till I could see the foot specialist. well I couldn't get an appt for 5weeks (KAISER) so I told her to send me for an MRI. The mri just came back yesterday with no fractures, torn ligagments or anything. So.. i'm going to see a speciaist next fri 21st.. i'm not sure what to expect or if i should still be wearing this walking boot. it's so frustrating. I have the pain where i'm just sitting and my foot is hanging and i have the dull pain. then a little stress pain when I walk.. This has been going on for 8weeks.. did you ever find anything out?? any help would be appreciated. thanks

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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Unknown location

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location unknown

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location unknown

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Dr. Mitnick, Thank you, you were 100% correct. The pain finally brought me to the ER. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The Doppler you spoke of was able to show that there was no pulse in that foot. This was an arterial clot that split and traveled throughout my leg. My leg was almost amputated. I am in rough shape but have all my parts intact!! You certainly know what you are talking about. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Yours Truly!

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location unknown

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location unknown

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location unknown

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Evansville, IA

Dear Marc

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Albany, NY

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location unknown

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Whichita, KS

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Boston, MA

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Colorado

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

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location unknown

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Canada

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location unknown

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Wisconsin

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location unknown

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

Thanks again doc for having this website and we STILL need qualified Podiatrists in beautiful sunny Tampa Bay (Bradenton) Florida.

Bessie Mae

Florida

Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

Lynne T.

location unknown

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Robert

New Jersey

Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

location unknown

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Melody

Lenoir, NC

Thank you so much Doc for a quick and thorough response!

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Bellevue, WA

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Jodi

location unknown

left ankle pain after 8 months

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